Chicago City Wire

David Krupa, a candidate for 13th Ward alderman, announced today he filed a lawsuit against current Alderman Marty Quinn and House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-Chicago), charging them with trying to dissuade him from running during the current election cycle.

Anthony Peraica, the attorney representing Krupa and a former Cook County commissioner, said the lawsuit alleges that the precinct captains of the 13th Ward Democratic Organization engaged in a pattern of intimidation and threats to both Krupa and voters and residents of the ward.

"They followed Krupa around while he collected signatures, threatened him, spoke over his head and tried to tamper with his petition," Peraica said during a press conference held to announce the lawsuit. "The political committee then spent a lot of money paying these precinct workers to collect over 1,700 affidavits. They were fraudulent. The group withdrew after they realized it wouldn’t be a walk in the park."

Peraica said they expect the complaint to be "vigorously contested."

"Quinn and the Madigan Machine have tried their best to obstruct the democratic process in the 13th Ward," Krupa said at the press conference. "They were caught red-handed turning in falsified affidavits to illegal influence the results of this election, mocking the intelligence and the integrity of the people of this ward."

Krupa said it was no wonder there hadn't been another candidate on the ballot since 1991.

"It is appalling in America in this day and age election fraud and civil rights violations of this magnitude can be carried out by our government officials," Krupa said. "Quinn and Madigan’s actions have tainted our neighborhood’s democracy and undermined it as well."

Krupa called Quinn and Madigan a "corrupt political team."

"They're lying to the members of the 13th ward," Krupa said. "The 13th ward deserves a new alderman. We have a choice. Do we choose to be lied to? Or a fresh new path that is honest and transparent."

Krupa said he challenged all mayoral and aldermanic candidates on the February ballot to fight back against the machine.

"Our representatives have talked the talk about transparency but let this investigation show who is really going to keep this government honest and truthful," Krupa said. "We have proven that our campaign is a movement for change. We can beat the Chicago machine and introduce a new Chicago way."

Krupa said the relief he's seeking with the lawsuit is justice. 

"Things like this have been happening for 27 years in this ward," Krupa said.

Peraica said the lawsuit is about setting precedent that it's not okay to place fraudulent affidavits in front of the election board.

"The voters have had enough of Madigan’s shenanigans," Peraica said.